Blueberry plant named &#39;FF03-178&#39;

ABSTRACT

The new blueberry plant variety ‘FF03-178’ is provided. The variety is produced from a cross of ‘FL00-62’ and ‘FL96-24’, which can be distinguished by its outstanding features. ‘FF03-178’ is a commercial variety intended for the hand harvest fresh market. The variety is medium vigorous, medium branched and leafy and produces a high yield of large fruit.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional PatentApplication No. 62/285,130 filed on Oct. 19, 2015, which is incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety as though fully set forth.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY-SPONSORED RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT

None.

Latin name of the family, genus, and species: Family—Ericaceae.Genus—Vaccinium. Species—corymbosum hybrid.

Variety denomination: The new blueberry plant claimed is of the varietydenominated ‘FF03-178’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinctcultivar of southern highbush blueberry known as ‘DivinaBlue’ aVaccinium corymbosum hybrid referred to as ‘FF03-178’ selection asherein described and illustrated.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new blueberry selection ‘FF03-178’ resulted from the cross betweenthe selections ‘FL00-62’ and the selection ‘FL96-24’ (unpatentedselections). ‘FF03-178’ is a commercial variety intended for the handharvest fresh market. The variety is medium vigorous, medium branchedand leafy and produces a high yield of large fruit. ‘FF03-178’ has anestimated chilling requirement of 200 hours or less, but also produceshigh fruit yields in an evergreen production system with zero chillhours when the plants are not allowed to enter dormancy.

The new cultivar ‘FF03-178’ was selected in Lowell, Oreg. in 2003 from aseedling population resulted from a controlled cross between theparents, ‘FL00-62’ as female source and ‘FL96-24’ as male source.

The new variety ‘FF03-178’ has maintained its distinguishingcharacteristics throughout successive asexual propagations in Lowell,Oreg., as herein described, sweet and good flavor, firm berries, andvigorous plants that are very leafy and highly productive underprimocane conditions.

The seedling family that produced ‘FF03-178’ was initially grown in 50cell propagation trays and planted in Lowell, Oreg., USA in 2001.‘FF03-178’ was selected in 2003 because it produced high quality fruitearly in the season. After being selected in Oregon, ‘FF03-178’ waspropagated by softwood cuttings and nine plant plots were established inDelano, Calif., USA and Oxnard, Calif., USA. The nine plant plots inCalifornia, USA were observed until they were removed in 2012. Theperformance of ‘FF03-178’ in California was considered good but notsufficiently good to justify commercialization. In 2012 and 2013, plantsof ‘FF03-178’ were sent to trial sites in Colima, Mexico and Seville,Spain. In Mexico, ‘FF03-178’ possessed excellent fruit quality but theplant did not appear sufficiently vigorous to commercialize. In Seville,Spain however, ‘FF03-178’ did possess sufficient vigor to have goodyields, and due to the extremely early ripening time of the ‘FF03-178’in comparison to the varieties commercially available there, it wasconsidered to have strong commercial potential. ‘FF03-178’ was selectedfor presenting an early concentrate production with high fruit qualityunder low chilling requirements. Fruit harvest can be medium-hard topick. The fruit is fairly firm, sweet and present good flavor withmedium-dried scar with good postharvest storage.

The new blueberry plant ‘FF03-178’ as it grows in Seville, Spain andelsewhere is distinguished by a moderately branched growth habitresulting in a rounded plant shape, low to moderate vigor, moderatelyspaced internodes, urceolate flowers with pink coloration beforeopening, very early flowering and fruiting, and firm, flavorful fruitwith a moderately dark color and flattened shape. The followingcharacteristics of the new cultivar have been repeatedly observed andcan be used to distinguish ‘FF03-178’ as a unique Vaccinium corymbosumhybrid plant:

-   -   1. Very early fruit ripening (typically at the same time or        before the very early ripening cultivar Snowchaser')    -   2. Excellent fruit flavor and very good fruit firmness    -   3. A very shallow calyx end depression on the ripe fruit    -   4. Highly evergreen leaves    -   5. Slightly oblate (flattened) fruit shape with weak to moderate        bloom    -   6. Medium to high plant vigor

The new variety ‘FF03-178’ has been stable in plant characteristicthrough multiple vegetative propagations. The parents ‘FL00-62’ and‘FL96-24’ have not been evaluated side by side with ‘FF03-178’ in thesame environment. However, in Florida, USA ‘FL00-62’ had fruit with apicking scar that was larger than that of FF03-178 in other locations.In Florida, USA ‘FL00-62’ also tended to have poor fruit colorationresulting in greenish portions of the ripe berry, whereas ‘FF03-178’lacks this trait. The fruit of TL96-24′ grown in Florida, USA werelarger than typical fruit of ‘FF03-178’ grown elsewhere.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying photographic illustration shows typical specimens infull color of the foliage and fruit of the new variety ‘FF03-178’ Thecolors are as nearly true as is reasonably possible in a colorrepresentation of this type.

FIG. 1 is a photograph of the new variety ‘FF03-178’, demonstrating theplant's compact growth habit.

FIG. 2 is a photograph of the flowers of the new variety ‘FF03-178’.

FIG. 3 is a photograph of the plant showing the fall foliage of the newvariety ‘FF03- 178’.

FIG. 4 is a photograph of the mature leaves adaxial and abaxial positionof the new variety ‘FF03-178’.

FIG. 5 is a photograph of the cluster on the variety ‘FF03-178’.

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with thephotographic and printing technology utilized. The color values cited inthe detailed botanical description accurately describe the colors of thenew blueberry.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘FF03-178’. The data which define thesecharacteristics were collected from asexual reproductions of theoriginal selection. Dimensions, sizes, colors, and other characteristicsare approximations and averages set forth as accurately as possible. Theplant history was taken on plants approximately 3 years of age, and thedescriptions relate to plants grown in the field in Tala, JaliscoMexico. Descriptions of fruit characteristics were made on fruit grownin Tala, Jalisco Mexico. Color designations are from Pantone.

-   Classification: a. Family — Ericaceae b. Genus — Vaccinium c.    Species —corymbosum d. Common Name — Highbush Blueberry.-   Parentage: Female Parent — ‘FL00-62’ (unpatented). Male Parent —    ‘FL96-24’ (unpatented).-   Market Class: Hand pick for fresh market.-   Plant:    -   -   General.—a. Parentage — ‘FL00-62’×‘FL96-24’ b. Plant height            — average 0.6 m. c. Plant width — average 0.7 m. d. Growth            habit — sprawling to round. e. Growth — vigorous. f.            Productivity— high. g. Cold hardiness — Approximately USDA            hardiness zone 9-10. h. Cold tolerance — medium. i. Chilling            requirement — Approximately 200 hours or less. j. Tolerance            to disease — to most common blueberry diseases. Not showing            any special susceptibility to any pathogen. k. Leafing —            heavily leafy plant. l. Twigginess — high.-   Stem:    -   -   General.—a. Suckering tendency — low. b. Mature cane color —            Pantone colors Carob Brown 18-1229, Gray Sand 13-1010,            Mahogony 18-1425 c. Mature cane length — 0.5 m d. Mature            cane width — 3 cm. e. Bark texture — rough. f. Fall color on            new shoots — Carob Brown 18-1229. g. Surface texture of new            wood — smooth. h. Internode length on strong, new shoots —            average 12 mm. i. Fruiting wood — average 16 cm in, length.-   Foliage:    -   -   General.—a. Time of beginning of leaf bud burst — evergreen            under primocane production. b. Leaf color (Top side) — Burnt            Olive 18-0521. c. Leaf color (Under side) — Tea 16-0213. d.            Leaf arrangement — Alternate. e. Leaf shape — obtuse. f.            Leaf margins — entire. g. Undulation of margin — smooth. h.            Leaf venation — Anastomosing. i. Leaf apices — Ovate. j.            Leaf bases — Obtuse. k. Leaf Length — average 48 mm. l. Leaf            Width — average 27 mm. m. Leaf length/width ratio — 1.7. n.            Leaf nectarines — Absent. o. Pubescence of upper side —            Absent. p. Pubescence of lower side — Absent. q. Cross            sectional profile — Revolute. r. Longitudinal profile —            Entire. s. Attitude — Porrect.        -   Petioles.—a. Length — average 3.8 mm. b. Width — average            2.2 mm. c. Color — Hay 12-0418.-   Flowers:    -   -   General.—a. Time of beginning of flowering — November under            primocane production. b. Time of 50% anthesis — middle of            December under primocane production. c. Flower shape —            urceolate. d. Flower bud density — medium. e. Flower            fragrance — sweet.        -   Corolla.—a. Color — Turtledove 12-5202. b. Length — average            8.4 mm. c. Width. — average 9.8 mm. d. Aperture width —            average 4.4 mm. e. Anthocyanin coloration of corolla —            low. f. Corolla ridges — distinct. g. Protrusion of stigma —            nule.        -   Inflorescence.—a. Length — average 23 mm. b. Diameter —            average 20 mm. c. Length of peduncle — average 20 mm. d.            Surface texture of peduncle — smooth. e. Color of peduncle —            Green Olive 17-0535. f Length of pedicel — average            5.6 mm. g. Surface texture of pedicel — smooth. h. Color of            pedicel — Leaf Green 15-0332. i. Number of flowers per            cluster — average 4. j. Flower cluster density — lose.        -   Calyx (with sepals).—a. Diameter — average 7.2 mm. b. Color            (sepals) — Herbal Garden 15-0336.        -   Stamen.—a. Length — average 5.8 mm. b. Number per flower —            average 10. c. Filament color — White Jade 12-0315. d.            Style: Length — average 5.1 mm. e. Color — Golden Ochre            16-1346.        -   Pistil.—a. Length — average 5.1 mm. b. Ovary color            (exterior) — Grasshopper 18-0332.        -   Anther.—a. Length — average 4.2 mm. b. Number —            average 10. c. Color — Golden Ochre 16-1346.        -   Pollen.—a. Abundance — high. b. Color — Pastel Pergament            11-0603. c. Self-compatibility — low, but it can set            parthenocarpic fruit.-   Fruit:    -   -   General.—a. Time of fruit ripening — From February 15 to            April 30 under primocane production. b. Time of 50% maturity            — Average March 20^(th) under primocane production. c. Fruit            development period — average 56 days. d. Cluster density —            average 4_(—) berries per cluster. e. Unripe fruit color —            Asparagus Green 12-0311. f. Ripe Berry color — Lilac Gray            14-3903. g. Berry surface wax abundance — medium. h. Berry            flesh color — White Jade 12-031. i. Berry weight — average            2.4 g under cross pollination conditions. j. Berry Height            from calyx to scar — average 13.3 mm. k. Berry Diameter —            average 18.4 mm. l. Berry shape — Oblate. m. Fruit stem scar            — small and dry. n. Sweetness when ripe — medium. o.            Firmness when ripe — medium. p. Acidity when ripe —            medium. q. Storage quality — good. r. Suitability for            mechanical harvesting — low. s. Self-fruitfulness — yes. t.            Uses — fresh.-   Seed:    -   -   General.—a. Seed abundance in fruit — 38 in cross            pollination. b. Seed color — Nugget 16-1148. c. Seed dry            weight — 40 mg per 100 seeds. d. Seed length — average 1.72            mm.-   Comparison between parental and commercial cultivars: The new    variety ‘FF03-178’ have not been evaluated under the same    environment as the parents, as contrasting characteristics,    ‘FL00-62’ had fruit with a picking scar stronger than in ‘FF03-178’    in other locations, also it usually presents a poor fruit coloration    of ripe berries, but it has not been observed in ‘FF03-178’. The    fruit of ‘FL96-24’ was observed as bigger than the typical fruit of    ‘FF03-178’ evaluated in different locations.

1. A new and distinct variety of blueberry plant named ‘FF03-178’substantially as illustrated and described herein.